The Fannin County Building Department in the Blue Ridge courthouse issues building permits, reviews plans and inspects construction, and it also takes applications for property inside Blue Ridge city limits once the City has given its approvals. County setbacks are 15 feet from property lines and 50 feet from the center of the road, and construction may not begin until the permit has been approved and issued.
What requires a permit in Fannin County?
Under the County’s Building Code Enforcement Ordinance (Ordinance 2024-04, approved February 13, 2024), anyone who builds, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves or demolishes a building, changes its occupancy, or installs or changes an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system must first get a permit from the building inspection department.
Permit needed
- New homes, additions and alterations
- Accessory buildings over 200 sq ft
- Any accessory building on a permanent foundation that needs a branch circuit, panel or utility service
- Moving or demolishing a building
- Electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work
- Domes, cabooses, containers, yurts and similar recreational structures (special permit)
No permit
- Accessory buildings of 200 sq ft or less with no power
- One 120-volt branch circuit in a previously permitted building, or in a building under 200 sq ft
- Portable heating, cooling and ventilation equipment
If renovations or repairs raise the property’s value by more than 50%, the whole structure must meet the current code. Recreational structures on a special permit can be used by the owner’s family but get no certificate of occupancy and cannot be rented to the public.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who issues permits in Fannin County?
The Fannin County Building Department issues building permits and handles pre-construction plan review and inspections. For property inside Blue Ridge city limits, the County’s checklist requires all City of Blue Ridge approvals before the County application can begin. Under the County’s 2017 Service Delivery Strategy, the County also provides construction and code enforcement inside McCaysville and Morganton, so building permits for both towns come from the County Building Department. Land disturbance permits, sign permits and plat and subdivision sign-off come from the County’s Land Development office in the same building (Suite 101a, same phone number).
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | 400 West Main Street, Suite 101, Blue Ridge, GA 30513 |
| Phone / fax | 706-632-8361 / 706-632-2507 |
| buildingdepartment@fannincountyga.org | |
| Hours | Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., closed noon–1:00 p.m. |
| Pre-construction and plan review | 706-258-5175 |
| Septic questions | 706-632-3024 |
| 911 addressing | 706-632-8984 |
Permit fees are set by the Board of Commissioners and posted in the building inspection department. Starting work before the permit is issued adds a penalty of 100% of the usual fee; a second offence costs 5 times the normal fee and a third 10 times.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work
The ordinance requires a permit to install or change any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system. All electrical inspections are scheduled through the Building Department. Once the electrical work passes and all other inspections are approved, the County sends the electrical approval to the power company to request service.
The plumbing rough-in inspection includes a pressure test carried out by the contractor, and the underground plumbing inspection is optional under the ordinance.
What to bring for a residential permit
The County’s Permitting Process Checklist (revised November 2025) lists:
- The deed, or a lease with an approval letter from the property owner
- A property survey, if one exists
- Building plans for the proposed structure
- Property lines and the proposed project marked on the ground
- Exact directions to the property, with any gate code
- A driveway permit if a new driveway connects to a county road
- An approved septic permit or sewage evaluation, if required
- A site plan if there are tertiary or state waters, with any floodplain marked
Inside Blue Ridge city limits, add the City of Blue Ridge approval and the approved city water and sewer tap or septic permit. Plans for assembly, educational and institutional buildings, buildings of three or more stories and buildings of 5,000 sq ft or more must carry an architect’s or engineer’s seal.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a Fannin County building permit
Inside Blue Ridge city limits, get every City approval before starting the County application.
Get the septic permit or sewage evaluation, and a driveway permit if the driveway meets a county road.
Mark the property lines and the proposed building on the ground, keeping to the setbacks.
Bring the deed, plans, survey and directions to the Building Department; plan review is handled by its pre-construction contact.
Do not begin construction until the permit is approved and issued. An application with no permit after six months is treated as abandoned unless extended.
Post the yellow copy of the permit where it can be seen, and request inspections at 706-632-8361 with the permit number.
Fannin County inspections
Call the Building Department at 706-632-8361 with the permit number to book an inspection; the yellow permit copy must be posted on the property. The ordinance has the inspector visit within 48 hours or two business days, whichever is longer, for a foundation inspection, and within 72 hours or two business days for a frame inspection.
- Footer: when the holes are dug and rebar is in place, before concrete
- Slab: before the concrete is poured
- Framing and plumbing: when framing, plumbing and HVAC are roughed in, before insulation
- Rough electrical: before insulation or drywall covers the wiring
- Final electrical: when all electrical work is complete
- Final (C/O): when all carpentry, masonry, electrical, plumbing and HVAC work is complete, before occupancy
Rather not deal with the Fannin County building department?
Get a free quote →New homes with living space need a duct and blower door test by an independent contractor under the state energy code, and the results are filed with the County. If a County inspector is not available, a private inspector or engineer can be used with the inspectors’ approval, at the permit holder’s cost.
Local Fannin County rules
Setbacks: the County checklist sets 15 feet from property lines, 50 feet from the center of the road, 50 feet from state waters and 20 feet from power lines. A variance can be requested through the Building Department and needs Board of Commissioners approval.
Portable buildings: a building under 8 feet 6 inches wide and no more than 24 feet long, on skids, one storey and not hard-wired can sit within 5 feet of the setback line.
911 address: call 706-632-8984 for the address once the foundation is complete.
Permit life: a permit becomes invalid if work has not started within one year of issue, or if work stops for one year.
Georgia building code
Georgia's State Minimum Standard Codes apply statewide: the 2024 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code, with Georgia Amendments, in force since 1 January 2026; the energy code is still the 2015 IECC with Georgia supplements. The Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Fannin County permit search and official resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Fannin County — Official Website
- Fannin County — Ordinances
- Fannin County — Building Department
- Fannin County Permitting Process Checklist
- Fannin County Residential Inspection Requirements
- Fannin County Land Development
Fannin County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Fannin County?
The Fannin County Building Department, 400 West Main Street, Suite 101, Blue Ridge (706-632-8361). It also issues permits in McCaysville and Morganton. For property inside Blue Ridge city limits, the City’s approvals come first.
Do I need a permit for a shed?
Not for an accessory building of 200 sq ft or less with no power supply. Larger buildings, and any building on a permanent foundation that needs electrical service, need a permit.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →What are the County setbacks?
15 feet from property lines, 50 feet from the center of the road, 50 feet from state waters and 20 feet from power lines.
How fast are inspections done?
The ordinance allows 48 hours or two business days, whichever is longer, for a foundation inspection and 72 hours or two business days for a frame inspection.
What if I start work without a permit?
The penalty is 100% of the usual permit fee on top of the fee. A second offence costs 5 times the normal fee and a third 10 times.
When do I get my 911 address?
Once the foundation is complete, call 706-632-8984.
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Fannin County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.